Weekend Options
FIRST LOVED TO LOVE:
God’s Love Up Close and Personal
First Loved Ministries Invites You…
…to an introductory Workshop, Saturday
Seminar, 2-day Weekend, or 3-day Retreat that
provide various ways to “taste” how to experience
God’s love more deeply—personally and tangibly.
You’ll experience God loving you through intimate
worship and His Word spoken to you as love
language. www.firstlovedministries.org
DearPastor,
Thankyousomuchfortakingamomenttoletmesharewithyouwhatnotonlyrescuedandrenewedmy
walkwiththeLordpersonally,butalsomadelifeandministrywithhimsomuchmorejoyfuland
rewarding.Twenty-sevenyearsago,theLordspoke1John4:19directlytomyheart:“Mark,youlove
becauseIHirstloveyou.”Hecontinued,“Cometomewhoislove(1John4:8,16)andletmeloveyou-irst
andthenyouwilllove.”
HereinforcedtheneedtobelovedHirstthroughhis“new”command:“AsIhavelovedyou,soyoumustlove
oneanother”(John13:34;15:12).Imagineforamomentthatyouarestandingbesidemeandyourspouse
(orbestfriend)isstandingbesideyou.Iturntoyouandask:“Pastor,wouldyoupleaseloveyourspouse(or
bestfriend)asI,MarkFeehavelovedyou.”Whatwouldyoudo?Nothing!Youwouldbeunabletoloveyour
spouseasIhavelovedyou—unabletoheedthecommand—untilyouexperiencedlovefrommeHirstina
tangibleway.Then,andonlythen,wouldyoubeabletolove“as”Ihavelovedyou.Likewise,onlyby
experiencingJesuslovingusHirstcanwelove“ashehaslovedus.”
Initially,thesewordsweresoradicaltomebecausetheyweresodifferentfromwhatIwaspracticing.Iread
theBibledailytobe“taught,rebuked,correctedandtrained”nottobelovedbyhim.Next,Iofferedup
“requests,prayers,intercessionandthanksgiving”tohimbutrarelyifeverexpectedhimtotalktome,
especiallytoloveme.FinallyIwouldrepentforthewaysIhadfailedtomeasureup,sinsofomissionor
commission,andthengointotheworld,determinedtotryharderandtodobetter.It’sasifthenew
commandwas:“AsyoureadintheBiblehowIlovedIsraelandthedisciplessoyoumusttrytolove.”
FLM’spassionistotrainpeopletoexperienceGod’slovemoredeeplyandremovebarriersfromreceiving
andsharinghislove.OurFirstLovedWorkshopcanbeinsertedwithapre-existingprogram,suchasa
men’sorwomen’sretreat,leadershipconference,targetedprogram,etc.Thisisa2-to3-hourprogram
teachingthebasicsof“TheNewWayofLoving”andasimpleintroductiontooneofthepractices.Our
SaturdaySeminarisaplacetocomeandexperiencetheFather/Jesuslovingthemwithwordsthroughthe
BibleandtheSpirit,asdiscoveredinintimateworship,teaching,alonetime,andsmallgrouptime.Andour
2-dayWeekendisanextendedevent,takingplaceFridayeveningANDSaturday,similartotheSaturday
Workshopbutwithadditionalgrouptimeandpracticeaswellasinteractionwithtrainedcoaches.
Ifyouhavequestionsorwouldliketosetupameetingtime(eitherinperson,viaphoneorvideo
conference),Iwelcometheopportunitytodoso.
ForHisgloryandourjoy,
Rev. Mark Gordon Fee, president
FLM,POBox1128,Middleton,MA01949|978-791-0570|info@firstlovedministries.org
First Loved Ministries
Mark Gordon Fee
SUMMARY OF THE FIRST LOVED TO LOVE LIFESTYLE
Many of us have had the experience of attending a service or a seminar in which our hearts were
filled with a profound sense of God’s presence and power. We left the meeting with a joy-filled,
overflowing heart! These dramatic explosions of grace really happen from time to time. God is
full of surprises. But miracles still seem to be the exception rather than the rule. Many of the
stories Jesus told regarding our personal spiritual growth were farming stories. Jesus often
communicated that the message of his kingdom is like seed. We grow in our walk with God as
we approach life like farmers—planting, watering, weeding, and waiting day by day.
Jesus also gave a new command: “As I have loved you, so you must love one another.” We have
to experience Jesus, (God), love us first in order to love as he has loved us. The First Loved to
Love Lifestyle is an invitation to begin pouring the water of God’s love, Jesus’ love, on our
heart’s soil, day by day, until we begin to feel and experience his loving kindness
toward us.
1. Invite God to speak to you personally from Scripture texts that provide
timeless revelations of his heart.
Sample: Zephaniah 3:17: “The LORD your God is with you. He is mighty to
save. He will take great delight in you, He will quiet you with His love, He will
rejoice over you with singing.”
Personalize & Memorize: “I am the LORD your God and I am with you. I am mighty to save you,
(Your name). I take great delight in you. I will quiet you with My love and I rejoice over you (Your
name), with singing.”
Meditate: Speak this personalized Scripture text to yourself, right out loud with passion. Speak it
again and again, until the words—like water—begin to soften your heart soil. Invite a friend to
speak these personalized words over you. Don’t stop meditating (i.e., marinating your soul) until
you feel God’s heart toward you through the very words of Scripture. When time permits, write
out the verse using synonyms and antonyms to help his truth penetrate deeper into your heart.
And listen to the Spirit to give further words of encouragement.
Synonym/Antonym Sample: “(Your name), I am the LORD, Yahweh, your God. I am always with
you, my child. I am never detached or distant. I am here as a warrior to fight for you and to
deliver you through the pressures you’re enduring. Do not for a moment allow yourself to think
that I don’t care about you. The truth is I adore you; I delight in the relationship we share. I am
eager to console you with my love, my kindness, and my affection. In fact, as I listen to you, I
celebrate your life and your faith in me with a mighty, exuberant shout!”
firstlovedministries.org
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First Loved Ministries
Mark Gordon Fee
Imitate: Share the verse with someone else to pour God’s
love into their hearts. Be led of the Spirit to share any
additional words of comfort and encouragement.
2. Keep your eyes and ears open for daily God‑Sightings:
loving human interactions that provide windows on God’s
tender love for you.
Give Thanks for the joy you feel as someone loves you, as
you love someone else, or as you witness others showing
love. We really do experience God’s presence and joy in the
loving presence of other Christians. (1Ths. 3:9 “How can we
thank God enough for you in return for all the joy we have in
the presence of our God because of you?”)
Imagine God in you or the other person loving you that
way and then hearing him say to you, “If you or they can
love to that measure on a human level, try to imagine how
much more I, your Heavenly Father, love you with a perfect,
eternal love!” (Mt. 7:11 “If you, then, though you are ‘imperfect’ know how to give good gifts to
your children, how much more do I, your Father in heaven, give good gifts to you who ask me!).
Meditate on these comparisons and illustrations of God’s love for you. Write them down in your
journal as God invited his OT people to write down his promises and instruction on their
doorposts (Deuteronomy 6:6, 9).
“…loving human
interactions that
provide windows
on God’s tender
love for you.”
- GOD SIGHTINGS
Imitate: Whatever you’ve seen or heard, learned or received, put
it into practice (Phil. 4:9).
3. Decide not to come to church (or any gathering of
Christians) empty‑handed—as a lukewarm observer. Sing,
give, speak and serve with your whole heart (1Pt. 4:10‑11).
Prepare your gifts in advance of Sunday morning. Remember,
when you bring your gifts, God also distributes other gifts of the
Spirit so that when a group of Christians gather, each one giving
more than he or she takes, Scripture describes this experience
as a love feast (Jude 12).
Remind yourself that every gathering is an opportunity to be loved by God and to share his
love with others. For many Christians, church is little more than a private experience in a public
setting. Make your church experience—from where you sit to who you greet, from what you give
to how you serve—all about expressing and experiencing God’s love with others.
4. Finally, join a small group.
We need to be in safe, committed relationships in order to process the barriers that may surface
in us that may prevent us from receiving and sharing God’s love. We have all had many
experiences of being “unloved” by life and people or being “unloving” to God, others or
ourselves. Sharing and praying with others can help to heal and remove these barriers.
firstlovedministries.org
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ABOUT MARK FEE
Mark Gordon Fee, president and founder of First Loved Ministries,
is an engaging speaker and teacher known for his warm personality,
his fun and passionate teaching style, and his gifted ability to make
Scripture come alive. A dynamic worship leader and songwriter,
Mark has also been playing piano, singing, and writing for most of
his life. He excels in drawing worshipers into a deep and intimate
connection with the Lord through a dynamic flow of hymns,
choruses, and Scripture.
Mark received a BA in Christian Education with a minor in music
performance from Wheaton College, Wheaton, IL. He continued
his education at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary in
Hamilton, MA, where he earned his Master of Divinity degree. He
is presently engaged in a doctoral degree in Discipleship from
Talbot School of Theology. Mark is the son of Dr. Gordon Fee, a
highly-esteemed Biblical scholar who’s written numerous commentaries and whose insights and
teachings have profoundly influenced Mark’s ministry.
From 1988-2005, Mark served as the senior pastor of the Vineyard Metronorth church in Melrose,
Ma. During his tenure he developed several programs to help his people to personally and tangibly
experience God’s love and to begin to remove the various relational, emotional and mental barriers
that interfered with that experience. In 2006, he founded “First Loved Ministries” in order to share
these programs with the church at large. He also produced a music CD entitled Rejoice Over You
that invites the listener to hear God’s words of love spoken and sung to them.
Mark and his wife Robin have five adult children and live in Danvers, MA.
PLACES WHERE MARK HAS MINISTERED WITH FIRST LOVED MINISTRIES:
Abundant Life Christian Center (Wilmington, MA), Advent Christian Church of Haverhill (MA), All Saints Angelican Church
(Amesbury, MA), Awakening Church (Dover, NH), Beaches Vineyard (Atlantic Beach, FL), Bethany Church (Greenland, NH),
Bethlehem Community Church (Delmare, NY), Boston Chinese Evangelical Church (Newtonville, MA), Calvary Chapel (Chelmsford,
MA), Calvin College (Grand Rapids, MI), Central Congregational Church (Derry, NH), Christian Life Church (Elliott, ME), Christ the
Redeemer Anglican Church (Danvers, MA), City Light Church (Northfield, MN), Coila Church (NY), Coys House (Cheshire, CT),
Danvers Church of the Nazarene (MA), East Auburn Baptist Church (ME), Evergreen Covenant Church (Sanford, ME), First Baptist
Church (West Springfield, MA), First Church of Wethersfield (CT), First Congregational Church (Wallingford, VT), Forestdale
Community Church (Malden, MA), Gateway Christian Fellowship (West Haven, CT), Grace River (Claremont, NH), Green Mountain
Christian Center (Bennington, VT), Heritage Christian Church (East Falmouth, MA), House of Hope (Lynn, MA), Lakeshore
Vineyard Church (Holland, MI), Metro Maryland Youth for Christ (Baltimore, MD), Montavilla Baptist Church (Portland, OR), New
Canaan Society (New Canaan, CT), New Hope Chapel (Plymouth, MA), Oasis Church (Windsor, CT), Portsmouth Christian
Acadamy (Dover, NH), Redemption Rock (South Chatham, MA), Roadside Chapel Assemblies of God (Rutland, VT), Seacoast
Community Church (Portsmouth, NH), Southside Vineyard Christian Church (Wyoming, MI), Spanish Evangelical (Lawrence, MA),
Stanwich Congregational (Greenwich, CT), State Street Church (Portsmouth, NH), St. Mary’s Anunciation (Danvers, MA), The Mill
Church (Millbury, MA), The Vineyard Church of North Grand Rapids (MI), Trinity Church (Greenwich, CT), University Chapel
(Vancouver, CANADA), VidaNet Discipleship School (San Jose, COSTA RICA), Vineyard Christian Church in Hopkinton (MA),
Vineyard Metro North (Saugus, MA), Vision New England (Danvers, MA), Voluntown Baptist Church (CT), West Congregational
Church (Haverhill, MA), Woodman’s Conference (Essex, MA).
“FIRST LOVED TO LOVE LIFESTYLE”
~ TESTIMONIALS ~
"...solid, Biblically-guided teaching, with heartfelt personal stories and very practical
wisdom, to provide each participant with a very 'real' understanding of one of the most important
realities of the Christ-following experience - God deeply, personally,
and passionately loves His children.”
Rev. Keith Tolley, Lead Pastor, Greenfield Alliance Church, Greenfield, Massachusetts
(former president of Vision New England)
“I really felt the love here [on the weekend]. I feel/believe this is just what I needed to realize what
my soul is thirsting for – the love of Jesus. I definitely needed this and would love to do more
[weekends] like this for spiritual enlightenment connecting with Jesus.”
Chloe (age 18), Connecticut
“Nothing has impacted my life and walk with God more than First Loved Ministries. It has changed
how I understand God’s love for me in a dramatic way and has deepened my walk and relationship
with God. I feel more secure in His love for me, and am now more free to love others better in the
same way I experience God loving me. My love and gratitude to the Lord has greatly increased as
well. Overall, it is this ministry that has most affected and grown my 43-year walk with the Lord.
And that’s amazing!”
Janet L, Massachusetts
“I think the First Loved conference is something that every Christian should attend . . . the material
presented deals with the number one issue people struggle with, namely, ‘After all my sin and failure,
does God still accept me?’ That seed doubt that enters our minds is the very thing that hamstrings
our fruitfulness in the kingdom of God and stymies our spiritual growth. I especially liked the
exercise of applying a passage of Scripture to our individual lives and making it real. Thank you for
an experience that transforms, not just informs.”
Tom Peers, Senior Pastor, State Street Church, Portsmouth, New Hampshire
“Thank you for your incredible Team of Prayer Ministers...you really blessed us this weekend. The
First Loved to Love teaching is AMAZING. Everyone was filled with the Holy Spirit and transformed.
Thank you for reminding us how very much we are loved by the King of Kings. You are a blessing
to this world and I pray that MORE people will come and be blessed by this mighty teaching.”
Karen and Peter, Maine
“[God’s] words came alive in a way I had never experienced before. They were not just words on a
page but a real conversation between God and me. In fact, I had read those words many times
before, but I had never ‘heard’ them in the depths of my soul. Perhaps for the first time in my life I
actually felt God's Love and experiencing it opened my eyes and heart to want to share that love
with my husband and children in a more intentional way than ever before. At long last I felt as
though a burden had been lifted, that the relentless struggle of the last three years since Hurricane
Sandy turned our lives upside down was over. God is with us and has brought us through the fire. I
could not wait to get home and tell my family how much I love them.”
Linda B, Connecticut
FIRST LOVED
Options & Guidelines
—Host Church Options & Guidelines—
1. OPTIONS
•
Workshop – This is a 2.5- to 3-hour program teaching the basics of “A New Way of Loving” and a simple
introduction to one of the practices. It can be inserted with a pre-existing program, such as a men’s or
women’s retreat, leadership conference, targeted program, etc.
•
Saturday Seminar – This is a longer program to come and “taste”, to experience God’s love in a deep
and personal way so that your soul is satisfied and singing with joy. Lay leaders assist with groups.
•
2-day Weekend Seminar – This is an extended event, taking place Friday evening AND all day Saturday, similar to the Saturday Workshop but with additional group time and practice as well as interaction
with trained coaches. All three of the main practices in the teaching are covered.
•
3-day Weekend Retreat – After attending a First Loved workshop or Saturday seminar, there is often a
desire from our participants to go deeper. These 3-day retreats provide an immersive experience bathed
in God’s love, quieting all life’s distractions in order to practice being loved and loving “as” in a safe and
Spirit-filled environment.
Schedules for each option are included on the last three pages of this packet.
2. COST
•
We ask that the church cover the cost for food and workbook materials – Typically these add up to
$20-30 per person ($15 for the workbook and $5-15 for food depending on the number of meals). It is at
the discretion of the church whether to charge a fee for participants or for the church to cover these expenses on their own.
•
Love Offering – Our goal is to serve and to bless you and your church family. We have discerned a call
from God to offer this experience freely and trust that He will provide in ways “immeasurably more than all
we can ask or imagine” (Ephesians 3:20). That being said, this is our livelihood and we have very real
costs associated with our ministry work. Instead of exacting a charge, we invite people to give to support
the mission of First Loved Ministries in response to their experience from the weekend. We ask the
church Pastor/Host to take a love offering at the end of the workshop. We also prayerfully invite the
church to consider an offering—as led by the Holy Spirit—separate from the participants’ love offering,
something the church might do to help supplement giving by the people.
•
Travel Expenses – If driving over 25 miles one way, or by plane, we ask that the church assist us with
the cost of fuel or airfare for Mark and one other staff member.
3. REGISTRATION, GROUPS & GROUP LEADERS
•
Registration – Upon our arrival, please provide a small rectangular table and chair for us to use for
registration and materials. Please provide participant names and contact info prior to the event.
•
Groups – Our Executive Administrator will arrange the groups. He will contact the church ahead of time
to get additional information regarding each participant (if available).
FLM!POBox1128!MiddletonMA01949!978-791-0570!info@firstlovedministries.org
FIRST LOVED
Options & Guidelines
—Host Church Options & Guidelines (continued)—
•
Group Leaders – During the program there will be group time. For Saturday Seminars it is important
for your church leaders and small group leaders to be involved. They will be called upon to “coach” (facilitate) a group. Our Executive Administrator will pre-arrange a time for us to meet with all your leaders
who will be involved sometime during the week before the workshop. Basic training and a summary of
expectations will be provided. The coach will also have the opportunity to participate in the group activity, but we have found having someone with leadership skills coach helps the group stay on track.
Trained coaches are provided for the Weekend Seminar and Retreat options.
4. AUDIO & MEDIA NEEDS*
•
•
•
•
•
A headset or lapel microphone for Mark during the teaching sessions.
A piano—acoustic or electric—for worship. If acoustic, please ensure that it is in tune.
A microphone on a boom stand for Mark at the piano and another vocal microphone on boom stand.
Ability to display MS PowerPoint for worship and presentation.
Provide a sound/video technician for the day, or provide someone to review AV setup with our staff.
* If you are unable to meet the audio and/or media needs, please contact us to make other arrangements.
5. MISCELLANEOUS
•
Rooms – Please have breakout rooms with chairs set up prior to the start of the weekend, based on the
number of participants (1 coach plus 3-4 participants per group/room). It is important to have a separate
space for all to gather during worship and teaching as we will need to periodically return to the main
meeting area after group time. If you absolutely need to use the main meeting area for one of the groups,
please provide another space for people to gather after groups.
•
Food – Meals should be provided for the whole group (participants and FLM staff) due to time constraints.
•
Tissues – Boxes of tissues are recommended for the breakout rooms and light snacks / water is suggested for arrival and break times.
•
Housing – For Weekend Seminars (Friday/Saturday), overnight accommodations need to be provided for
our trained coaches (if coaches are traveling form more than 25 miles away). This can be at a hotel or with
church families that are willing to “sponsor” a coach for the weekend.
•
Retreats – If you are interested in scheduling a weekend overnight retreat at a particular location,
please contact us to discuss details.
•
Location Contact – Please also provide contact information (email and cell phone) for all those who
will be primary points of contact prior to and during the weekend to our Executive Administrator, Peter
Vantine at [email protected]
Please don’t hesitate to email or call for more information.
THANK YOU & GOD BLESS YOU!
FLM!POBox1128!MiddletonMA01949!978-791-0570!info@firstlovedministries.org
FIRST LOVED
Saturday Seminar
—Saturday Seminar Format—
This seminar is designed for 20+ participants and involves your church’s lay leaders to help facilitate groups.
FLM coaches will meet with your leaders prior to the seminar. This particular format is for first-time participants.
A follow-up weekend and or retreat are available for those who have attended this seminar.
8:00 AM
Participants Arrive / Registration
8:30 AM
Worship
8:50 AM
Welcome
9:00 AM
SESSION 1: “A New Way of Loving!”
10:15 AM
Alone Time (choose a verse)
10:30 AM
Group Time (getting to know one another)
12:00 PM
Lunch
12:45 PM
Music (Song from Mark’s CD—Rejoice Over You)
1:00 PM
Next Steps, Love Offering
1:30 PM
SESSION 2: “Love Verses: God (Father, Son, Spirit) Loves Us Through His Word(s)”
2:45 PM
Alone Time (Synonym/Antonym Meditation Exercise)
3:30 PM
Group Time (Synonym/Antonym Meditation Exercise)
5:00 PM
Depart
FLM!POBox1128!Middleton,[email protected]
FIRST LOVED
Weekend Seminar
—Weekend Seminar Format—
This seminar is designed for a max of 20 participants. This particular format is for
first-time participants or those who have attended a First Loved Saturday Seminar.
FRIDAY
6:30 PM
Participants Arrive / Registration
7:00 PM
Worship
7:30 PM
Welcome
7:45 PM
SESSION 1: “A New Way of Loving!”
8:45 PM
Groups (getting to know one another)
SATURDAY
8:30 AM
Worship
9:00 AM
SESSION 2: “Love Verses: God (Father, Son, Spirit) Loves Us Through His Word(s)”
10:15 AM
Alone time (Synonym/Antonym Meditation Exercise)
11:00 AM
Group time (Synonym/Antonym Meditation Exercise)
12:30 PM
Lunch
1:30 PM
Music (Song from Mark’s CD—Rejoice Over You), Next Steps, Love Offering
2:00 PM
SESSION 3: “Overcoming the Measuring Stick Mentality (The Conditional Mindset)”
3:30 PM
Alone Time (Measuring Stick Exercise)
4:00 PM
Group Time (Measuring Stick Exercise)
5:30 PM
Dinner
6:30 PM
SESSION 4: “God Sightings: God (Father, Son, Spirit Loves Us Through Our Loving Interactions”
7:30 PM
Alone Time (God Sighting Exercise)
8:00 PM
Group Time (God Sighting Exercise)
9:30 PM
Depart
FLM!POBox1128!Middleton,[email protected]
FIRST LOVED
Weekend Retreat
—Weekend Retreat Format—
This retreat is designed for 12-20 participants, depending on the retreat facility. This particular weekend
format is for those who have attended a First Loved Saturday Seminar or Weekend Seminar.
A follow-up program entitled “Getting Along” will be available for those who have attended this retreat.
FRIDAY:
6:30 PM
Registration / Meet & Greet
7:00 PM
Worship
7:30 PM
SESSION 1: “A New Way of Loving!”
8:45 PM
Group Time (Getting to Know One Another)
10:00 PM
Free Time
SATURDAY:
7:30 AM
Breakfast
8:30 AM
Worship
9:00 AM
SESSION 2: “Love Verses: God (Father, Son, Spirit) Loves Us Through His Word(s)”
10:15 AM
Alone Time (Synonym/Antonym Meditation Exercise)
11:00 AM
Group Time (Synonym/Antonym Meditation Exercise)
12:30 PM
Lunch
1:30 PM
CD song
1:45 PM
SESSION 3: “Overcoming the ‘Measuring Stick’ Mentality (The Conditional Mindset)”
3:15 PM
Alone Time (Measuring Stick Exercise)
3:45 PM
Group Time (Measuring Stick Exercise)
5:00 PM
Free Time / Prayer
6:00 PM
Dinner
7:00 PM
“The Next Step” – FLM Overview
8:00 PM
Free time
SUNDAY:
7:30 AM
Breakfast
8:30 AM
Worship
9:00 AM
SESSION 4: “God Sightings: God (Father, Son, Spirit) Loves Us Through Our Loving Interactions”
10:15 AM
Alone Time (God Sightings Exercise)
11:00 AM
Group Time (God Sightings Exercise)
12:30 PM
Lunch / Testimonies
2:00 PM
Departure
FLM!22VineyardStreet!DanversMA01923!781-258-9418!info@firstlovedministries.org